The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has disclosed that 9,324,349 young Nigerians registered as new voters during the 2026 Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise.
INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash Amupitan, SAN, made the announcement through National Commissioner Prof. Rhoda Gumus at a youth engagement event in Abuja on Wednesday, stressing that the high turnout shows the interest of young Nigerians in determining electoral outcomes ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The commission, in its effort to strengthen civic awareness and voter education, unveiled nine Youth Ambassadors from the entertainment, media, and advocacy sectors. The ambassadorial team includes Nollywood actors Emmanuel Ikubese, Mike Godson, and Seun Ajayi, as well as Amal Umar, Christopher Yohanna (Uncle CY), Alex Kool Ibeh (Mr Kool), Ibrahim Tukur Bello, Sunday Agbaji, and Thompson Ukeki.
The Chairman of INEC’s Outreach and Partnership Committee, Prof. Kunle Ajayi, while addressing participants, emphasized on the dangers of online fake news, urging young voters to use digital platforms responsibly.
“Information now travels rapidly, and a false claim about an election can reach thousands of people before a correction is issued. I therefore ask every Youth Ambassador to adopt a simple discipline: verify before you amplify”, Prof. Ajayi.
Actor Emmanuel Ikubese also called on young Nigerians to reject violence and make their voices heard through the ballot box. He emphasized that citizens can hold different political views while still maintaining peace during elections.
“It is important for us to choose our preferred candidate at the polling box. That is why we vote with our thumb and not blood”, Ikubese.
The electoral body hopes to increase youth turnout, combat electoral misinformation, and safeguard election integrity as the 2027 general elections approaches.
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